The Way Home in the Night

Mother rabbit and baby rabbit are traveling through a night-darkened city on their way home. They pass through pools of street light, cross the illumination of glowing windows, and imagine their neighbors’ nighttime activities. A ringing phone causes baby rabbit to wonder, “Who is calling?” The smell of pie prompts baby to envision a quiet feast for two. Even after baby rabbit snuggles into bed, the fantasy continues. Baby sees visions of friends saying goodbye after a party, the bookseller’s cozy read on the couch, a cook unwinding in a bath. Sinking slowly into sleep, baby concludes that while “some nights are ordinary and other nights are special,” “every night, we all go home to bed.”

The Way Home in the Night is a perfect book for bedtime reading. The cadence of the simple lines mimics deep, slow breathing. The peaceful illustrations present beautiful studies in light and dark, with shadows creeping across the page and warm lamplight seeping from windows. All the images are slightly grainy, as if seen through sleep-filled eyes. Settle in to sleep with your favorite child in a warm bed with this lulling stroll through the city.